Switch-stand



(No Model.) 'a sheets-sheet 1.

J. T. HAMBAY.

I SWITCH STAND.

No. 319,709. 4 Patented June 9', 1885.

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(N0 Model 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. T. HAMB-AY.

SWITCH STAND. l N0. 319.709. Patented June 9, 1885.

M PEIERS, Photn-Lithngnphln Winhlngmnim cl NITED STATES" PATENT Prion.

JAMES T. HAMBAY, OF ALLEGHENY, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH-STAND.

$PECIEICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 319,709, dated June 9, 1885. Application filed Jul 7, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEsI. HAMBAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Stands, of which improvements the following is a specification.

In the accompanying drawings,which make part of this specification, Figures 1 and 2 are front and side elevations of my improved switch-stand, showing the position of the parts when the semaphore is at main-line safety and at danger or siding safety. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional and side elevations of the operative parts on an enlarged scale, said parts being in the same position as in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the sliding block. Fig. 6 is a similar View of the head-bl0ck of the switch stem or shaft. Figs.

7 and 8 are views similar to Figs. 3 and 4,

showing the manner of operating revolving signals. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the sliding block for operating revolving signals. Fig. 10 is a detail View analogous to Fig. 6.

In an application of even date herewith I have shown and described what I term as a v three-motion sWitch-stand-that is, one in which the signal is thrown into a position indicating danger by the act of unlocking the switch, and then into positions indicating siding safety or main-line safety by the locking of said switch in positionsto insure such safety; but on some railroads only two positions of the signal are required-that is, the position indicating maindine safety and danger, the latter being employed when the switch-rails are moved out of line with the rails of the main line.

The object of this invention is to so construct a switch-stand that 'thesignal 'shall be moved before switch-rails can be moved, and to lock both the switch-rails and the signals in either position; and to this end my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The frame 1 and its top plate, 2, are constructed in the same manner as in the application above referredto, and on said top plate is formed the bracket 3, having the overhanging plate provided with the socket 5, for the reception of the signal post or pillar 6, carrying the semaphore 7 and lantern 8. On the under side of the overhanging plate 4 are formed the guides or ways 9, on which are supported and slide the flanges 10, formed on the back of the sliding block 11. On one side of this block 11 is formed the lug 12,fron1 which projects the pin 13, which enters the slot 1.4,formed in one arm of the bellcrank lever 15, said lever being pivoted to a lug projecting from the socket 5. To the other armof the bellcrank lever is attached the rod 16, said rod being attached at its upper end to the semaphore 7.

In the under side of the sliding block 11 is formed the circular groove 17, which extends entirely around the block, except where said block is cut away to allow of its reciprocation alongside of the bracket 3.

On the outer and .inner walls of the groove are formed, on one side of the block, the lugs 18, which project a slight distance below the general surface of the block and in the outer wall of the groove 1'7, adjacent to the lugs 18, is formed the slot 32. The purpose of these lugs and slot will be hereinafter stated.

Onthe head of the lever 19,which is pivoted between the arms 20 of the head-block 21, is formed the projection 22, adapted in certainpositions of the lever 19 to project into the groove 17 of thesliding block 11; and opposite the proj ection 22 on the head of the lever 19 is formed the lug 23, adapted to rest on the top plate, 2, and hold the lever 19 in a horizontalposition.

On the upper side of the head-block 21,

which is secured to the end of the switch stern boss in line with the lugs. In any other position of the head-block the sliding block 11 will pass freely over the boss 25.

On the outer end of the lever 19 is secured the weight 26, which will cause the lever to drop into the notches 27 or 28, formed on diametrically-opposite sides of thetop plate, 2, when said lever is moved into line with said notches.

In place of the oscillating semaphore 7, a rotating signal and lantern may be employed, in which case the pillar 6 is extended through the socket 5 and overhanging plate 4, and on the lower end of this pillar, now transformed into a vertical shaft, is secured the pinion 29, adapted to engage with the rack 30, formed on the inner side of one of the flanges 10 of the sliding block 11. In place of the semaphore, a target and lantern provided with lenses of different colors are secured on the pillar 6, and the mechanism for operating the semaphore is omitted; but in all other respects the construction of the switch-stand and itsadjuncts is alike in both cases.

The lower end of the switch stem or shaft 24 is connected to the switch-rails by a crank and rod, in the usual manner.

In describing the operation of the switchstand I will start with the switch-rails in line with the rails of themain line. The'position of the parts of the stand when the switch-rails are in this position is clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 7, the semaphore being inclined downwardly, indicating main-line safety, and the lever 19 being turned down into the notch 27. To open the switch the lever 19 is raised until it is free from the notch 27, and the end of the lug 23 is in line with or a little above the top of the plate 2. During this upward movement of the lever the projection 22 thereon is forced inward, and as said projection is within the groove 17 of the sliding block 11, this block is also moved inward, or to the right in Figs. 1 and 4, thereby turning the bell-crank lever 15 and raising the semaphore to a horizontal or danger position. (See Fig. 2.) The lever 19, being now freed from the notch 27, is turned around horizontally, thereby turning the switch stem or shaft and shifting the switch-rails into line with the rails of the siding. The lever during this horizontal movement is prevented from being turned down by the lug 27, resting upon the top plate, 2, and thus locking the signal at danger during the movement of the switch-rails. As soon as the lever has been turned around into line with the notch 28, and the siding is thereby opened, the lever is turned down into said notch 28, and as the slot 32 in the sliding block 11 is in line with the notch 28, the downward movement of the lever will remove the projection 22 from the groove 17, thus leaving the sliding block in the position into which it was moved by the unlocking movement above described, and the signal at danger. As the head-block is rotated for shifting the switch-rails the boss 25, formed on said block, is moved in between the era-209 lugs 18,- depending from the inner and outer walls of the groove 17, (see Figs. 3 and 7,) thus locking the sliding block, and consequently the signal, at danger.

In changing the switch-rails from the siding to the main line the operations above described are reversed. The lever is raised from the notch 28, thus causing the projection 22 to enter the groove 17 through the slot 32. The head-block 21 is then turned around by the lever, thus removing the boss 25 from between the lugs 18 until the switch-rails are in line with the rails of the main line and the lever is in line with the notch 27. The lever is then turned down or forced down by the weight 26 into the notch 27, thereby drawlng the sliding block 11 into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the projection 22 being in the groove 17 and setting the signal at safety.

The operation of the operative parts is the same with the revolving signal. From the above it will be seen that the signal is set at danger before the switch rails can be moved out of line with the rails of the main track, and that it is retained in that position until they are again in that position.

In case of the breaking of any of the parts of the switch-stand, I provide for the automatic setting of the signalat danger by securing an arm, 31, to the pillar 6, said arm being provided with a slot through which the rod 16 can freely move, and around the rod 16 is arranged a spring, 32, resting at its lower end on the arm 31. On the rod 16, above the spring, is secured the collar 33, which is so adjusted on the rod that the spring will normally hold the semaphore at danger, as shown in Fig. 2.

I claim herein as my invention 1. In a switch-stand, a rotating switch stem or shaft, in combination with a lever pivoted to said shaft and provided with a projection, 22, a sliding block having a groove adapted to receive said projection, and a signal operated by the sliding block, substantially as set forth. I

2. In a switch-stand, a rotating switch stem or shaft, in combination with a lever pivoted to said shaft and provided with a projection, 22, a sliding block having a groove adapted to receive said projection, the outer wall of said groove being notched to permit of the passage of the projection to and from the groove, and a signal operated by the sliding block, substantially as set forth.

3. In a switch-stand, a rotating switch stem or shaft having a head-block, 21, provided with the boss 25, in combination with a lever pivoted to the headblock and provided with the projection 22, a sliding block having a groove adapted to receive the projection 22, the walls of said grooves being provided with the depending lugs 18, and a signal operated by the sliding block, substantially as set forth.

4. In a switch-stand, a frame or support provided with a peripherally notched top plate, in combination with a rotating switch ICO and from the groove, and a signal operated by the sliding block, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES T. HAMBAY. WVitnesses:

R. H. WHITTLEsEY, DARWIN S. WOLOOTT. 

